Lend a Hand listing for Baldwin County

The following items or services are sought to help provide aid and comfort to a Baldwin County individual or family in need. If you can help, please do so by contacting the agency involved.

Community organizations needing specific service assistance or donations may submit their needs and requests to be included by email to baldwin@al.com.

COUNTYWIDE

The Council on Aging, 22251 Palmer Street, Robertsdale, is in need of donations of adult diapers, pads and bed pads to pass out to those in need.

Odyssey HealthCare of Baldwin County needs volunteers to play bridge with patients in their homes or nursing homes, caregiver relief, help with administrative duties and bereavement calls and visits. Those interested in helping a hospice patient or their families should call Kim Smith at Odyssey HealthCare at 251-422-1891.

Mary’s Shelter Gulf Coast, a home for homeless pregnant women, needs baby supplies, household supplies, groceries, feminine hygiene items, stamps and envelopes, prepaid cell phones and other miscellaneous items. For more information on how to help Mary’s Shelter, call 251-986-6200.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Alabama YMCA needs volunteer mentors for children in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Through school-based and community-based programs, volunteers are asked to spend an average of one hour per week mentoring a child. Volunteers must be at least 18 and are screened and trained before being matched with a child. For more information, call Roslyn Spencer at 251-344-0536, ext. 107 or email bigbrothersbigsisters@ymcasalabama.org.

Family Promise of Baldwin County Inc. is a nonprofit faith-based organization that provides services for homeless families with children. Volunteers are needed to help with administrative duties, drive vans, sit with families and so forth. For more information, call Mike at 251-947-5641 or email familypromise@gulftel.com.

Habitat for Humanity of Baldwin County is looking for helping hands at its ReStore in Summerdale to accept donations of new and used construction and household items to be resold. Profits go to help Habitat for Humanity of Baldwin County in its mission to eliminate poverty housing. Call the ReStore at 251-989-6422.

CARE House, Baldwin County’s Child Advocacy Center, needs volunteers for a variety of duties. CARE House provides services to child victims of sexual abuse and severe physical abuse. For details on how to help, call 251-580-2546.

The Lighthouse domestic violence and sexual assault program needs volunteers to help answer crisis calls and to work with fundraisers, special events and donations. Also needed are volunteer court advocates to accompany and help domestic violence victims in courts and volunteer counselors to be on call by beeper to offer support, information and referral, and to respond to victims of sexual assault at area emergency rooms. The Lighthouse shelter also needs essential items such as antibacterial hand soap and gel, Lysol disinfectant spray, gas cards (specifically from Shell, BP or Chevron), dishwasher detergent, fabric softener, women’s deodorant, laundry detergent, floor cleaner, bleach, garbage bags (13 gallon and 33 gallon), lice treatment, gallon-size zip-top bags, large storage bins, coffee, creamer and sugar. For details, call 251-947-4393.

Baldwin County Schools Heritage Committee is seeking donations of school memorabilia and artifacts to be housed in the archives of the school system. Items requested include old yearbooks, teacher records, diplomas, graduation invitations, books and photographs. Donations can be delivered to the office of Harriet Outlaw, 2600A N. Hand Ave., Bay Minette, AL 36507. For more information, to volunteer to serve on the committee or to arrange for a pickup of artifacts, call Outlaw at 251-937-0324.

Project REACH — Resources for Educational Advancement of Children — a Catholic Social Services program that provides educational resources for children in low-income families in Baldwin County, needs school supplies, gently used uniforms and monetary donations. To help, call 251-947-2293.

Retired Senior Volunteer Program, a national program designed for all people 55 or older, needs volunteers for many local sites. Many community agencies and projects depend on volunteers who work a half-day each week or every other week. There are more than 85 volunteer stations in Baldwin County. For more information, call Nancy Bell (south Baldwin County) in Gulf Shores at 251-968-8252, Lori Edson (Eastern Shore) at the Daphne Senior Center, 251-621-3703, or Faye Robinson at the home office in Bay Minette at 251-937-6764.

North Baldwin Literacy Council needs volunteer tutors for basic adult readers. Volunteer tutors will be trained. The tutor meets once a week for an hour with the student. The council is also recruiting students. For more information, call Marilyn Waters at 251-937-1112. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

South Baldwin Literacy Council needs volunteer tutors to work with school-aged children in Robertsdale and at Foley Elementary. No teaching experience is required; the teacher will be trained by the agency. For more information, call 251-943-7323..

Amedisys Hospice Services of Foley offers hospice services to the terminally ill and their families in the community. Hospice volunteers are needed to help patients and their families with errands, companionship and emotional support. New volunteers participate in free training. For more information, call hospice volunteer coordinator Dale Gravitt at 251-971-3325 or 866-392-6951.

South Baldwin Regional Medical Center in Foley has volunteer opportunities available. Openings are available in several departments for volunteers with lots of energy. Duties may include assisting staff, transporting patients, restocking supplies, greeting guests, delivering items, filing and general office duties. After completing orientation, volunteers receive departmental training. They receive a complimentary lunch for each four-hour shift worked, as well as service hour pins when certain goals are met. For more information, call 251-949-3563.

EASTERN SHORE

Fairhope-Point Clear Rotary Youth Programs, Inc., is seeking volunteers to work with its after school programs, which serve youth ages 5-18 who live in Fairhope, Point Clear and surrounding communities. Volunteers are needed to assist with homework and/or to serve as tutors from 4-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday. There is also a need for volunteers for recreational activities that take place from 5-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 4-6 p.m. Fridays. For more information, email info@rotaryyouthclub.org or call 251-928-9148.

Mercy Medical is in need of hospice volunteers to provide services such as running errands, offering respite breaks for caregivers and clerical assistance. For more information, call 251-621-4431 or email volunteers@mercymedical.com.

Bay Rivers Art Guild, seeks volunteers to work front desk/reception area. Volunteers do not have to be artists, just be interested in volunteering. For more information, call 251-621-0659.

Fairhope Museum of History, on North Section Street in downtown Fairhope, seeks volunteers to serve as docents a few hours a week. Docents greet and answer questions for visitors and local community members each year. For more information, call Donnie Barrett, museum curator, at 251-929-1471.

Daphne Public Library and Friends of the Daphne Public Library need donations of books, music and videos for the bookshop and sales. Especially needed are mystery and suspense paperbacks, other paperbacks, children’s books and jigsaw puzzles. Donations can be taken to the circulation desk at the library.

Meals on Wheels drivers are needed for Eastern Shore routes in Fairhope, Daphne and Spanish Fort. Drivers only commit to one hour periods one day a week. Meals are picked up five days a week at lunch time from the Brennnity in Fairhope and Westminster Village in Spanish Fort; to be distributed to homebound disabled and elderly. For more information, call Carol Rupp at 251-928-3430.

Volunteers are needed to help hang flags in Fairhope on patriotic holidays. The flags are hung at 6 a.m. and it takes approximately one hour. Anyone interested in volunteering should call John Pritchett at 251-990-0118.

TO BE, a nonprofit group which provides help for women in crisis pregnancies in our area, needs donations such as diapers, wipes, cribs, car seats, strollers and anything an infant would need. Items will be donated to women who need help during and after pregnancy. Volunteers are welcomed. For more information about drop-off and volunteering, call 251-928-8661.